Latin America

Heinz Dieterich - the German academic, self-proclaimed prophet of "Socialism for the 21st Century", and so-called "friend" of the Bolivarian Revolution - has recently written another new article offering "advice" to the Venezuelan Revolution. We publish here a response to Dieterich by Alan Woods, who explains the tasks necessary for completing the Revolution.

The defeat of the attempts by the counter-revolutionary opposition to overthrow the Venezuelan government by force has given way to a wide debate amongst the Bolivarian rank and file about economic policy. Jorge Martin of the Hands Off Venezuela campaign analyses the latest events and debates in Venezuela.

Recently a young worker and member of the Leeds Marxist Society, Ben Curry, travelled to Cuba as an international delegate to the May Day celebrations. We publish here his thoughts and analysis on what is happening in Cuba now and where it is going in the future.

The FIFA World Cup continues this week in Brazil, but with a very different atmosphere to what usually accompanies such an event, as the widespread protest movements and strikes taking place in the country clearly demonstrate. Here we publish an article by comrades of the Esquerda Marxista [Marxist Left] in Brazil, which highlights the enormous social and class contradictions that have surfaced around the tournament.

The World Cup events being held in 12 cities across Brazil are set to begin today. Half a million tourists are expected to flood into Brazil. However, instead of the expected celebrations and weeks of national rejoicing in a country long-known for its proud football traditions, there is an enormous tension within Brazilian society.